Award-Winning Broadway Performer Stephanie J. Block Hosts Q&A with Theatre Students Wednesday, March 19, 2025
Stephanie J. Block — a Tony, Drama Desk and Outer Critics Circle Award-winner — held a Q&A with theatre students in Point Park University’s Pittsburgh Playhouse during the spring semester. Block was in town performing at the Greer Cabaret Theater as part of the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust's Cabaret Series.
Known for her powerhouse vocals on Broadway and beyond, some of Block's notable credits include Wicked, The Cher Show, Into the Woods, Falsettos and 9 to 5, among many others. Block is also known for her work off-Broadway, on TV and podcasts and in films and commercials.
Michael Campayno — artist in residence and interim chair of the Department of Theatre — worked alongside Block in The Cher Show as Rob Camilletti and was thrilled to welcome her to campus.
“Stephanie is one of the most grounded, kind humans, and I think it’s so important for you to meet and experience someone at her level,” Campayno said to the theatre students. "This is for you."
Block shared that it took her 19 years to get to Broadway, but she stayed the course with every yes and no to follow her dreams.
"Everybody's journey is different, and I sort of knew I had a gift when I was young," Block said. "I wanted to be a nun or a singer," she shared through a smile.
She told the story about singing for the church congregation at her First Holy Communion.
"At 8 years old, people were calling me Ethel Merman and were paying attention to me a little differently," she said.
After years of hard work and private vocal training (with the same teacher of 42 years), Block made her Broadway debut in 2003 playing Liza Minnelli in The Boy from Oz. She was the first actress to play Elphaba in the U.S. touring production of Wicked in 2005-06, and in 2007, reprised the role on Broadway.
When asked about her advice to future Elphaba's in the room, she said: "Compare is despair. Do not compare ever."
Block had continued success on Broadway earning Tony, Drama Desk, Drama League and Outer Critics Circle Award nominations. Among her many honors, she won a Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical for her performance as Cher in The Cher Show.
One student asked Block how she manages the ups and downs of the industry.
"I take every day as what it needs to be and our whole lesson is to be in the moment. I always think that tomorrow is going to be that phone call that will change my life," she said. "If you aren't ready for that phone call [that's about to change your life], that's no one's fault but your own."
She added: "So that means you are preparing today if Stephen Schwartz calls you tomorrow. You are ready, and that's how I navigate it all."
Aryan Cheruvattath, a sophomore contemporary theatre making major from Horizon High School in Orlando, Fla., said his biggest takeaway from the Q&A was that persistence is pertinent to succeed in the theatre industry.
"If you want something, you have to train as if tomorrow will bring a call that will change your life," said Cheruvattath. "Hearing from professionals who made it in the industry tell us that they went through similar experiences to what we go through today is so important, especially as a person of color. Hearing her say that it doesn't matter what you look like was so refreshing."
An emphasis on authenticity and staying true to oneself in the industry resonated with Andrea Paulina Robles, a junior musical theatre major from Glen A. Wilson High School in Hacienda Heights, Calif.
"Stephanie spoke about the importance of bringing your unique perspective to every project rather than trying to fit into a mold," said Robles. "Her advice on resilience and taking care of yourself physically and mentally also stood out as a crucial part of building a sustainable career."
Robles added: "Guest artist visits, like Stephanie's, provide invaluable real-world insight that bridge the gap between classroom learning and professional practice. Hearing firsthand about the challenges and triumphs of someone as accomplished as Stephanie J. Block makes the industry feel more tangible and accessible. It's incredibly inspiring to hear directly from someone who has navigated their dream career path and is a way of life I hope to follow."